4-H'er catches more than just a calf

G O'Dea of rural McCook talks softly and walks calmly to soothe a calf named "Heat." Heat and G are participants in an Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Stock Show program called "Calf Challenge." G grinned and said recently that since qualifying for the challenge in September, he's learned, "that there's a lot more to showing cattle than I anticipated." G has participated in 4-H since he was 8 years old and has shown cattle for six years.(Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Neb. -- "Catch-a-calf" contests once generated wrestling matches and track meets between young exhibitors and the green calves they hoped to catch, halter and lead away.

Now, however, Ak-Sar-Ben's catch-a-calf contest -- now called a "Calf Challenge" -- challenges young producers to a "skill-a-thon," a written test and an interview. They can still come away with calves, but without the take-downs and foot races, the dust, the dirt and the arena drama.

Last fall, "G" O'Dea, a rural McCook and Red Willow County 4-H'er, was one of 52 Ak-Sar-Ben "Calf Challenge" contestants, and one of the 28 finalists who earned calves to show in the 2015 Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Stock Show. Each successful finalist drew a calf's ear tag number out of a hat and took possession of a potential top show calf.

G is the 14-year-old son of Michelle and John O'Dea and a fifth generation ag producer. Following his grandfather, C.J. O'Dea, and his mother, he is a third generation Ak-Sar-Ben exhibitor.

During his challenge interview, G explained to judges his insights into the agriculture and livestock industry and the humane care of animals, and described his family's cattle program. He told them that he has been "active with cattle all my life."

G's challenge calf is an angus/Simmenthal/Maine Anjou cross steer that he named "Heat." He explained that the calves for the contest came from producer Kelvin Jorgensen of Exeter, "and a 'kelvin' is a measure of heat, so I named my calf 'Heat'."

Calves in any one year of Ak-Sar-Ben's calf contest come from one producer's herd, so the genetic potential of the calves is similar.

G's calf will be weighed in with the rest of Red Willow County 2015 county fair calves. G can show Heat at the county fair and/or the state fair previous to the Ak-Sar-Ben show.

G said the Calf Challenge requires that he keep in touch with his sponsor, fourth generation Omaha entrepreneur/philanthropist Tyler Owen, writing letters explaining his and the calf's progress.

He must keep detailed records on his calf -- feed, health and medicines, injuries if any, and costs. His record books will be a large part of how his project is scored at the end of the contest.

At the Ak-Sar-Ben show in late September, the calf will also be judged on rate-of-gain and carcass results, as well as its live placing in the stock show.

When the calf is sold, G will receive 70 percent of sale proceeds. Ak-Sar-Ben retains 30 percent to fund the Calf Challenge program.

G sees his involvement in the Calf Challenge as a wonderful opportunity to be an ambassador for agriculture and the livestock industry, for 4-H and for Ak-Sar-Ben.

G is a freshman at Southwest Junior/Senior High in Bartley. After school, he plans to ranch and raise cattle. "I want to continue my family legacy," he said. "My family has been involved in agriculture, generation upon generation -- at least five generations."